Research Ambassadors
Alexandra Pflanz '27
Email me at: apflanz@u.rochester.edu
Discipline(s) of Research
- Life Sciences
- Social Sciences
Major(s) and Minor(s)
- B.S. in Health, Behavior and Society
- Minor in Biology
- Minor in Psychology
Areas of Interest/Research Focus
- Department of Surgery, Cancer Control, BEAST Lab under Dr. Viktor Clark
- Investigate technology-driven approaches to young adult cancer research, including participant recruitment, data collection, and intervention development
- Department of Psychology, Human Behavior & Social Change Lab under Dr. Cameron Hecht
- Conduct physiological studies with participants, and code physiological/behavioral data.
- Department of Pediatrics Research, Mariani Lab
- Investigated genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying lung maturation and chronic lung disease developing proficiency in molecular and computational biology laboratory techniques
- Abstract writing
- Poster/Oral presentation skills
- Crafting emails to reach out to PIs
- Interview skills
- Finding areas of interest in research
What advice do you have for prospective or new researchers?
Don't be afraid to ask questions, even if you feel like you should already know the answer. Research is a learning process, and it is completely normal to make mistakes or not understand everything at first. I also wish I had known how valuable it is to take initiative and seek out opportunities, because some of my most meaningful experiences came from simply reaching out and getting involved. Also, be open to exploring different areas. You may discover interests you never expected to have.